Boy Culture

Boy Culture
Directed by: Q. Allan Brocka
Written by: Philip Pierce & Q. Allan Brocka
Starring: Derek Magyar, Patrick Bauchau, Darryl Stephens, Jonathon Trent


The current state of gay cinema right now is generally poor. The amount of bad product is unfortunately high, the amount of good product is low and the amount of truly great product is rare. Extremely rare. Don't get me wrong, it seems like the gay movie industry is in an upswing. It just has to make a lot of strides to get to where it deserves to be. Taken seriously.

Boy Culture is an example of what gay cinema can really be. Great. Brilliant. Utterly watchable and totally unforgettable.



Based on the book of the same name by Matthew Rettenmund, Boy Culture is the story of X (Derek Magyar) a gay hustler exclusive to 12 rich clients, which he dubs his disciples, and his two roommates, Andrew (Darryl Stephens) and Joey (Jonathan Trent). X is in love with Andrew, Joey is in love with X, and Andrew is falling in love with X. All while X spends time finding himself with Gregory, his newest "disciple."

The movie is told as a series of confessions with X talking us through the movie. Sometimes voice overs can get grating and distracting. Not so with this movie. X carries us along with wit and charm and gives us more insight into this complex and endearing character.

The relationships between Andrew, Joey, and X are handled expertly and the three have great chemistry. They are indeed a family and in the end, which I won't spoil, you really understand and appreciate them.


The entire cast is stellar. Darryl Stephens is great (beautiful too if I may say). Jonathan Trent plays twink Joey to a tee. He is very funny. Derek Magyar however, commands the screen. This, if I am not mistaken, is his first big screen role and he handles it like a charm. He glows on screen. A star is born as the old cliche goes.

Together, Derek and Darryl ignite the screen.

The scenes between X and Gregory are wonderful. Every word out of Patrick Bauchau is dripping with gold. He brings a stoic professionalism to the movie. The climax of their relationship is most importantly believable. Normally this type of relationship is plagued with cliche and innuendo. Not so here. It's handled skillfully and rings true.

Q. Allan Brocka has delivered what I would call one of the greatest gay movies of the past 10 years. It is impossible not to feel for these characters. Not to care where they end up and want to go along with them on the journey. You feel every emotion they feel. Any betrayal, any bit of happiness or sadness; you feel it right along with them. It's nothing short of fantastic. It is smart, funny, touching, witty, charming...I could list any number of adjectives and it wouldn't be enough.

I believe there is a difference between a movie and a film. Brocka's previous effort Eating Out is a movie. A campy sex comedy that was just that. It didn't try to be anything else and you knew watching that it wouldn't be anything else.

Boy Culture, however, is a film. It is a film about family, about love and fear. It is a film that you feel better for having watched. When the movie ended I wanted to cheer. Finally someone who made a gay film and did it 100% right.

Take a couple hours and watch it. Buy it for yourself and your friends. I doubt you'll be disappointed.



Boy Culture
Rated R
TLA Releasing